Syvum Home Page   Sign In

Home > Examinations > NYSED Regents Exams > Earth Science - High School > Print Preview

Earth Science - New York Regents August 2018 Exam

Formats View Examination Paper with Answers Solve Examination Paper Review

Hide all answers   View all answers   Print   Try the Quiz


1.
Part A
Answer all questions in this part.
Directions (1 - 35): For each statement or question, choose the word or expression that, of those given, best completes the statement or answers the question. Some questions may require the use of the 2011 Edition Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Earth Science. Record your answers on your separate answer sheet.
1 The diagram below represents a sundial
  positioned in New York State. During daylight,
  the shadow cast by the gnomon (pointer) moves
  across the disc, with the tip of the shadow
  pointing to the time of day.
This motion of the gnomon’s shadow on the
sundial is mainly due to
(1) Earth’s rotation
(2) Earth’s revolution
(3) the Sun’s rotation
(4) the Sun’s revolution
Answer:

2.
2 The formation of the planet Uranus is estimated
  to have occurred approximately
  (1) 100,000 million years ago
  (2) 2.0 billion years ago
  (3) 4.6 billion years ago
  (4) 13.7 billion years ago
Answer:

3.
3 Compared to the Jovian planets in our solar
  system, the terrestrial planets have
  (1) less mass and are less dense
  (2) less mass and are more dense
  (3) more mass and are less dense
  (4) more mass and are more dense
Answer:


4.
4 The diagram below represents the constellation
  Leo that can be seen by an observer in New York
  State at midnight during March.
Leo is not visible to this observer at midnight
during September because
(1) Leo has rotated on its axis
(2) Leo has revolved in its orbit around the Sun
(3) Earth has rotated on its axis
(4) Earth has revolved in its orbit around the Sun
Answer:

5.
5 An observer in New York City measured the
  angle of insolation at solar noon each day. During
  which month did this observer see the noontime
  angle of insolation increase each day?
  (1) April                   (3) September
  (2) July                    (4) December
Answer:

6.
6 The Coriolis effect occurs as a result of Earth’s
  (1) rotation              (3) tilted axis
  (2) revolution            (4) magnetic field
Answer:

7.
7 During the process of condensation, water vapor
  (1) releases 334 J/g of heat energy
  (2) releases 2260 J/g of heat energy
  (3) gains 334 J/g of heat energy
  (4) gains 2260 J/g of heat energy
Answer:

8.
8 Infiltration is generally greater than runoff where
  the land has a
  (1) gentle slope and permeable soil
  (2) gentle slope and impermeable bedrock
  (3) steep slope and permeable soil
  (4) steep slope and impermeable bedrock
Answer:

9.
9 Nearly 90% of the water vapor that enters
  Earth’s atmosphere comes from the evaporation
  of Earth’s surface waters. Most of the remaining
  10% is water vapor that enters the atmosphere
  through
  (1) precipitation from clouds
  (2) transpiration from plants
  (3) condensation within the troposphere
  (4) melting of polar ice caps
Answer:

10.
10 What is the relative humidity if the dry-bulb
   temperature is 26°C and the wet-bulb temperature
   is 18°C?
   (1) 13 %                  (3) 45 %
   (2) 33 %                  (4) 51 %
Answer:

11.
11 Most of the long-wave energy radiated from
   Earth and lost to space on a cloudless night is
   (1) ultraviolet           (3) visible light
   (2) infrared              (4) gamma rays
Answer:

12.
12 In addition to carbon dioxide, two other major
   greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere are
   (1) oxygen and nitrogen
   (2) oxygen and methane
   (3) water vapor and nitrogen
   (4) water vapor and methane
Answer:

13.
13 The arrows in the diagram below represent the
   movement of air over a mountain.
Clouds are forming on the windward side of this
mountain because the air is
(1) expanding and cooling to the dewpoint
(2) expanding and warming to the dewpoint
(3) compressing and cooling to the dewpoint
(4) compressing and warming to the dewpoint
Answer:

14.
14 The graph below shows the average monthly
   amount of insolation received throughout a year
   at four locations (A, B, C, and D) on Earth.
Which line on the graph best represents the
average monthly insolation received at the
equator?
(1) A                 (3) C
(2) B                 (4) D
Answer:

15.
15 Earth’s polar regions have cold, dry climates
   because the Sun’s rays are at a
   (1) low angle, and upper atmospheric air is sinking
   (2) low angle, and upper atmospheric air is rising
   (3) high angle, and lower atmospheric air is sinking
   (4) high angle, and lower atmospheric air is rising
Answer:


16.
16 Atmospheric transparency will increase when
   (1) volcanic eruptions occur
   (2) fog is produced
   (3) insolation is reflected by clouds
   (4) precipitation removes dust particles from the
       air
Answer:

17.
17 The existence of which group of organisms spans
   the shortest geologic time?
   (1) birds                 (3) dinosaurs
   (2) humans                (4) placoderm fish
Answer:

18.
18 Which New York State geologic event occurred
   most recently?
   (1) Taconian orogeny
   (2) Grenville orogeny
   (3) formation of the Catskill delta
   (4) dome-like uplift of the Adirondack region
Answer:

19.
19 The only dinosaur fossils found in New York
   State are footprints found on 210-million-year-
   old bedrock. In which New York State landscape
   region were these dinosaur fossils found?
   (1) Tug Hill Plateau
   (2) Newark Lowlands
   (3) Allegheny Plateau
   (4) Adirondack Mountains
Answer:

20.
20 The first P-wave of an earthquake travels 5600
   kilometers from the epicenter and arrives at a
   seismic station at 10:05 a.m. At what time did this
   earthquake occur?
   (1) 9:49 a.m.              (3) 10:02 a.m.
   (2) 9:56 a.m.              (4) 10:14 a.m.
Answer:

21.
21 The photograph below shows a New York State
   index fossil.
What is the best classification of this fossil,
and during which geologic time period did the
organism that produced this fossil exist?
(1) Classification: Coral
    Geologic time period: Permian
(2) Classification: Coral
    Geologic time period: Ordovician
(3) Classification: Trilobite
    Geologic time period: Permian
(4) Classification: Trilobite
    Geologic time period: Ordovician
Answer:

22.
22 As a quartz pebble is transported by a stream, the
   pebble will become more rounded as a result of
   (1) dissolving as water is running over the rock
   (2) abrasion by colliding with other rocks
   (3) deposition in well-sorted layers
   (4) resistance to weathering and erosion
Answer:

23.
23 Which three minerals are most likely used in the
   construction of a house?
   (1) graphite, pyrite, and halite
   (2) garnet, galena, and sulfur
   (3) talc, amphibole, and fluorite
   (4) selenite gypsum, dolomite, and muscovite mica
Answer:

24.
24 The topographic map below shows a portion of
   a volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean. Elevations
   are shown in feet. Letters A and B represent
   locations on Earth’s surface. Locations A and B
   are 2.5 miles apart.
What is the approximate gradient from point A to
point B on the island?
(1) 1000 ft/mi           (3) 2000 ft/mi
(2) 1250 ft/mi           (4) 2500 ft/mi
Answer:

25.
25 Which two rocks usually consist of only one
   mineral, but may contain additional minerals?
   (1) hornfels and diorite
   (2) quartzite and dunite
   (3) rock salt and basalt
   (4) gabbro and bituminous coal
Answer:

26.
26 Which rock has never melted, but was produced
   by great heat and pressure, which distorted and
   rearranged its minerals?
   (1) siltstone            (3) pegmatite
   (2) breccia              (4) metaconglomerate
Answer:

27.
27 The map below shows a portion of the North
   Carolina coastline, including some of the Outer
   Banks. The Outer Banks is a string of narrow
   barrier islands consisting of well-sorted sand
   along the Atlantic Ocean coast.
Which agent of erosion is primarily responsible
for the formation of these barrier islands?
(1) wave action           (3) streams
(2) landslides            (4) glacial ice
Answer:

28.
28 The photograph below shows a magnified view
   of a portion of a rock that can float if placed in
   water.
Which terms best describe this rock?
(1) non-crystalline and vesicular
(2) coarse and non-vesicular
(3) clastic and fragmental
(4) foliated and banded
Answer:

29.
29 The map below shows three locations, labeled A, X, and B, on Earth’s surface.
Which table correctly indicates the solar times at locations A and B when it is 12 noon at location X?

Answer:

30.
30 Which equation is used to determine the approximate rate of Earth’s revolution?

Answer:

31.
31 Which cross section best represents a cold front?

Answer:

32.
32 The isolines on the map below show snowfall totals from a lake-effect storm that affected a portion of
   New York State.
The surface winds that produced this storm came from which direction?
(1) northwest                                    (3) southeast
(2) northeast                                    (4) southwest
Answer:

33.
33 The photograph below shows Mount Rainier, a volcano in the state of Washington.
Which map best shows the complete stream drainage pattern for this mountain?

Answer:

34.
34 Which table best represents the characteristics of the continental crust and the oceanic crust?

Answer:

35.
35 The map below shows the locations of some oil and gas fields in New York State.
Which type of bedrock contains these oil and gas deposits?
(1) extrusive igneous rock                        (3) metamorphic rock
(2) intrusive igneous rock                        (4) sedimentary rock
Answer:


36.
Part B - 1
Answer all questions in this part.
Directions (36 - 50): For each statement or question, choose the word or expression that, of those given, best completes the statement or answers the question.
 Some questions may require the use of the 2011 Edition
Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Earth Science. Record your answers on your separate answer sheet.
   Base your answers to questions 36 through 38 on the map below and on your knowledge of Earth science.
The map shows typical weather systems over North America. Letters X, Y, and Z represent locations on the map.
The isobars on the map are measured in millibars (mb).
36 Which map information indicates that the wind velocity is greater at location Z than at location X?
   (1) Location Z is closer to the ocean.           (3) The latitude of location X is greater.
   (2) The isobars are closer together at Z.        (4) Location X is closer to the front.
Answer:

37.
37 Which type of front extends northwest from location Y?
   (1) warm front                                    (3) occluded front
   (2) cold front                                    (4) stationary front
Answer:

38.
38 Which map best shows the locations for the centers of high pressure (H) and low pressure (L)?

Answer:

39.
  Base your answers to questions 39 through 41 on the passage below and on your knowledge of Earth Science.
                                            Supermoon Eclipse
                  On September 27, 2015, a rare total lunar eclipse of a supermoon occurred.
             A supermoon occurs when the entire lighted half of the Moon faces Earth (full Moon
             phase) and the Moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. At this time, the Moon
             will appear 14% larger and 30% brighter than normal. Supermoon events are rare,
             but a total lunar eclipse during a supermoon is even more rare. There have been only
             six total supermoon lunar eclipses since 1900. The next one will not happen until 2033.
39 Supermoon total lunar eclipses are celestial events that
   (1) are random occurrences                          (3) will never happen again after 2033
   (2) are predictable                                 (4) will happen every full Moon
Answer:

40.
40 The diagram below represents the Moon in four positions, A through D, in its orbit around Earth.
At which position in its orbit was the Moon located during the 2015 supermoon total lunar eclipse?
(1) A                                              (3) C
(2) B                                              (4) D
Answer:

41.
41 The time it took for the Moon to go from this supermoon to the next full moon phase was
   (1) 15 days                                        (3) 29.5 days
   (2) 27.3 days                                      (4) 365 days
Answer:

42.
   Base your answers to questions 42 through 44 on the diagram and graph below and on your knowledge of
Earth science. The diagram represents a portion of Earth’s interior. Letters A, B, and C represent interior layers.
The graph shows the velocity of P-waves and S-waves at various depths in Earth’s interior.
42 Which layers of Earth’s interior are represented by letters A and B?
   (1) A is the crust and B is the rigid mantle.
   (2) A is the lithosphere and B is the asthenosphere.
   (3) A is the asthenosphere and B is the crust.
   (4) A is the rigid mantle and B is the lithosphere.
Answer:

43.
43 What is the approximate velocity in kilometers/second of the P-waves at a depth of 1000 kilometers?
   (1) 6.2 km/s                                       (3) 11.3 km/s
   (2) 7.2 km/s                                       (4) 13.8 km/s
Answer:

44.
44 Some locations within layer C have an inferred density of

Answer:

45.
     Base your answers to questions 45 through 47 on the graph below and on your knowledge of Earth science.
The graph shows the changes in a single star’s luminosity and relative temperature from its formation (point 1) to
its late stage (point 4) relative to the Sun.
45 Which is a possible surface temperature of this star at point 2?
   (1) 3000 K                                          (3) 7000 K
   (2) 5000 K                                          (4) 10,000 K
Answer:

46.
46 Between points 1 and 3, this star is visible to observers on Earth because it emits light energy. This energy
   is released by the process of nuclear fusion when
   (1) dust collides with the star
   (2) dust is broken apart by radiation
   (3) lighter elements combine to form heavier elements
   (4) heavier elements are broken down to form lighter elements
Answer:

47.
47 Which table correctly classifies this star at points 3 and 4?

Answer:

48.
    Base your answers to questions 48 through 50 on the photograph below and on your knowledge of Earth
science. The photograph shows a meandering stream in a wooded area. Points A and B represent locations on the
streambanks. Letter X represents a flat area near the stream.
48 The streambank at location B is steeper than the streambank at location A because the water near
   location B is moving
   (1) slower than the water near location A, causing more erosion
   (2) slower than the water near location A, causing more deposition
   (3) faster than the water near location A, causing more erosion
   (4) faster than the water near location A, causing more deposition
Answer:

49.
49 The area labeled letter X represents a portion of a
   (1) delta                                           (3) finger lake
   (2) sand dune                                       (4) floodplain
Answer:

50.
50 Most of the particles deposited where the stream velocity decreases from 50 centimeters per second to
   5 centimeters per second are
   (1) small cobbles and large pebbles             (3) small sand and large silt
   (2) small pebbles and large sand                (4) small silt and large clay
Answer:


51.
Part B - 2
Answer all questions in this part. Directions (51 - 65): Record your answers in the spaces provided in your answer booklet. Some questions may require the use of the 2011 Edition Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Earth Science. Base your answers to questions 51 through 54 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. In the diagram, letters A, B, C, and D represent Earth’s location on the first day of the four seasons as it orbits the Sun. Aphelion (Earth’s farthest distance from the Sun) and perihelion (Earth’s closest distance to the Sun) are labeled to show the approximate positions where they occur in Earth’s orbit. The dashed lines represent Earth’s axis, and the North Pole is labeled N.
51 State the number of degrees that Earth’s axis is tilted from a line perpendicular to the plane of its orbit at
   each lettered location. [1]
Answer:

52.
52 Identify the season in New York State during which Earth is at perihelion. [1]
Answer:

53.
53 State the number of hours of daylight that an observer in New York State will experience when Earth is at
   position D. [1]
Answer:

54.
54 Identify the name of the star that is aligned with Earth’s axis above the North Pole. [1]
Answer:

55.
    Base your answers to questions 55 through 58 on the passage, chart of definitions and photograph below, and
on your knowledge of Earth science. The passage is an excerpt from the 1994 novel Inca Gold, by Clive Cussler,
which describes the formation of a sinkhole in the Andes Mountains of South America. The chart of definitions
helps the reader understand some concepts in the passage. The photograph shows a sinkhole that formed in a
South American village.
                                           Excerpt from Inca Gold
                    …The sinkhole’s early history began in the Cambrian era when the region was part
               of an ancient sea. Through the following geological eras, thousands of generations of
               shellfish and coral lived and died, their skeletal carcasses forming an enormous mass
               of lime and sand that compressed into a limestone and dolomite layer two kilometers
               thick. Then, beginning sixty-five million years ago, an intense earth uplifting occurred
               that raised the Andes Mountains to their present height. As the rain ran down from the
               mountains it formed a great underground water table that slowly began dissolving the
               limestone. Where it collected and pooled, the water ate upward until the land surface
               collapsed and created the sinkhole.…
55 In the first line of the passage, referring to Cambrian as an “era” is scientifically incorrect. State the unit of
   geologic time that should be substituted for the word “era.” [1]
Answer:

56.
56 Identify one group of animals that became extinct at the time the passage states that intense uplifting of the
   Andes Mountains began. [1]
Answer:

57.
57 Using chemical symbols, state the chemical composition of the mineral found in limestone. [1]
Answer:

58.
58 Describe the chemical weathering that contributes to the formation of sinkholes. [1]
Answer:

59.
    Base your answers to questions 59 through 61 on the geologic cross section below and on your knowledge
of Earth science. The cross section represents rock units, labeled A through K, that have not been overturned.
Two unconformities and a volcanic ash layer are indicated.
59 List the letters E, H, and K to indicate the correct order of rock unit formation, from oldest to youngest,
   that formed this portion of Earth’s crust. [1]

Answer:

60.
60 Identify two processes that most likely caused the formation of both unconformities. [1]
Answer:

61.
61 Identify one metamorphic rock that most likely formed within rock unit G at the boundary of
   rock unit K. [1]
Answer:

62.
    Base your answers to questions 62 through 65 on the field map in your answer booklet and on your
knowledge of Earth science. The map shows the depth of Cuba Lake, located in New York State at latitude 42°14’ N,
longitude 78°18’ W. Isoline values indicate water depth, in feet. Points A and B represent locations on the
shoreline of Cuba Lake. Points W, X, Y, and Z represent locations on the bottom of the lake. The 30-foot isoline
has been partially drawn.
 62 On the map in your answer booklet, complete the 30-foot water depth isoline from point W to
    point X. [1]

Answer:

63.
63 On the grid in your answer booklet, construct a profile of the bottom of Cuba Lake from point A to point B.
   Plot each point where an isoline showing depth is crossed by line AB. Connect the plots with a line, starting
   at A and ending at B, to complete the profile. [1]

Answer:

64.
64 State the compass direction and distance in feet (ft) from point Y to point Z. [1]
Answer:

65.
65 Identify the New York State landscape region where Cuba Lake is located. [1]
Answer:


66.
Part C
Answer all questions in this part.
Directions (66 - 85): Record your answers in the spaces provided in your answer booklet. Some questions may require the use of the 2011 Edition Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Earth Science. Base your answers to questions 66 through 68 on the table below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The data table lists some information about the dwarf planet Pluto, which revolves around our Sun, and the five known moons that orbit Pluto.
66 Identify the name of Pluto’s moon that most likely has an orbit farthest from Pluto. Explain how the data
   indicate that this moon’s orbit has the greatest distance from Pluto. [1]
Answer:

67.
67 Describe the shape of the orbit of Pluto and the orbits of its five moons. [1]
Answer:

68.
68 Explain why Pluto and its five moons are considered to be part of our solar system. [1]
Answer:

69.
   Base your answers to questions 69 through 73 on the passage and map below and on your knowledge of
Earth science. The map shows a satellite image of a nor’easter that influenced the weather of the northeastern
United States. The white areas represent clouds associated with this storm system. The locations of North Carolina
and Albany, New York, are labeled on the map. The storm’s low-pressure center is represented by letter L.
Letters cP and mT represent two air masses.
                                                    Nor’easters
                   A nor’easter is a large, low-pressure storm system that moves along the east coast
               of the United States. The wind over the land blows generally from the northeast as the
               center of the low passes by a location, hence the name nor’easter. Due to the circulation
               of winds around the center of the low-pressure system, large amounts of precipitation
               occur as moist air is carried from the ocean to the land. These storms usually intensify
               off of the North Carolina coast as they track toward the northeast.
69 Describe two characteristics of the circulation pattern of the surface winds around the center of the
   low-pressure area represented on the map. [1]
Answer:

70.
70 Circle the terms that best describe the relative moisture and relative temperature characteristics of the mT
   air mass compared to the cP air mass shown on the map. [1]

Answer:

71.
71 The map below shows some of the principal storm tracks across the United States and the names of these
   storm tracks.
Identify the name of the storm track that this nor’easter most closely followed. [1]
Answer:

72.
72 The table below shows weather conditions recorded in Albany, New York, at the time that the satellite image
   was taken.
On the station model in your answer booklet, use the correct symbols and proper format to indicate the
four conditions in the table. [1]

Answer:

73.
73 Identify one weather instrument that was most likely used to determine the dewpoint at Albany,
   New York. [1]
Answer:

74.
    Base your answers to questions 74 through 76 on the data table below and on your knowledge of Earth
science. The data table shows the mass of a sample of radioactive carbon-14 remaining after each half-life.
74 On the grid in your answer booklet, construct a line graph by plotting the data for the mass of carbon-14 in
   the sample for each half-life shown on the data table. Connect the plots with a line. [1]

Answer:

75.
75 Identify the stable disintegration product of the radioactive isotope carbon-14. [1]
Answer:

76.
76 Determine the number of grams of carbon-14 remaining in this sample at 17,100 years. [1]
Answer:

77.
    Base your answers to questions 77 through 79 on the data tables below and on your knowledge of Earth
science. Data table 1 shows the average maximum and average minimum water temperatures at different
depths in Lake Michigan. Data table 2 shows the average maximum and average minimum land temperatures at
different depths in soil at St. Paul Minnesota (MN).
77 Identify the water depth range and the soil depth range, in meters, that have the same average maximum
   temperature of 12.5°C. [1]
Answer:

78.
78 Describe the general relationship between depth and average temperature for both water and soil in the
   summer. [1]
Answer:

79.
79 Explain why the winter water surface is warmer than the winter land surface. [1]
Answer:

80.
   Base your answers to questions 80 through 82 on the map below and on your knowledge of Earth science.
The map shows an enlargement of a portion of the Tectonic Plates map from the Physical Setting/Earth Science
Reference Tables. Arrows showing plate motion have been omitted. Points Y and Z represent locations on plate
boundaries.
80 Identify the type of tectonic plate boundary found at location Z. [1]
Answer:

81.
81 State the names of the tectonic plates on each side of the Bouvet Hot Spot. [1]
Answer:

82.
82 The cross section in your answer booklet represents a portion of Earth’s interior beneath point Y. On this
   cross section, draw an arrowhead on each of the four bold lines, to represent the direction of the convection
   currents in the asthenosphere. [1]

Answer:

83.
    Base your answers to questions 83 through 85 on the passage below and on your knowledge of Earth
science.
                                                Glacier Movement
                  Glaciers are thick sheets of ice in motion. Mountain glaciers tend to move down
              the slopes of mountains from higher elevations to lower elevations, while continental
              ice sheets move over large areas of continents. The bottom of a glacier is under great
              pressure due to the weight of the thick sheet of ice. This pressure causes the bottom of
              the glacier to partially melt, allowing the glacier to move. As the glacier thickens, more
              pressure is created and the glacier moves faster. Different parts of a glacier can move at
              different rates, depending on the amount of pressure and friction between the glacier
              and the underlying bedrock.
 83 Describe the relationship between the thickness of a glacier and its rate of movement downhill. [1]
Answer:

84.
84 Describe the most likely shape of the cross section of a valley formed as a result of erosion by a mountain
   glacier. [1]
Answer:

85.
85 Compared to sediments deposited by meltwater from a glacier, describe the difference in the arrangement
   of the sediment deposited directly by a glacier. [1]
Answer:

  Try the Quiz :     Earth Science - New York Regents August 2018 Exam


Contact Info © 1999-2025 Syvum Technologies Inc. Privacy Policy Disclaimer and Copyright
Previous
-
Next
-